Sosson, Marshall (18 August 1910-28 April 2002)

Violinist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra who went on to serve as CBS’s concertmaster in the ‘30s.

He served his country during World War II but still got to hone his craft with the Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra while stationed in California. It turned out to be a good move for him, because it put him squarely in the Hollywood music scene, where he acted as concertmaster for Columbia Pictures from 1947 through 1959, then went on to perform similar duties for Walt Disney Studios well into the ‘80s.

He was good friends with Frank Sinatra and Felix Slatkin, and the three of them collaborated quite a bit. It is not surprising, then, that Marshall landed a spot in an orchestra chair for the recording of the From Here To Eternity soundtrack. Other films he worked on included All the King’s Men, Fantasia, How the West Was Won, and Stripes. He also worked on the soundtrack of the television program, Honey West.

His earliest recording seems to be Violin Jazz – A Nostalgic Collection, which comprises tracks laid down between the late ‘20s and early ‘40s.

He also had his own group, Marshall Sosson and the Chicagoans, and was a member of The Da Sallo String Quartet, along with Louis Kievman and Nathaniel Rosen. There is an historical recording of them performing Borodin’s famous String Quartet No. 2 in D, which contains the oft-excerpted “Nocturne”.

Marshall’s bread and butter would be his indefatigable work as a session man. Some of the artists and groups with whom he recorded include Ann-Margret, Louis Armstrong, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Doris Day, Earth, Wind & Fire, Duane Eddy, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, George Gershwin, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman, Lesley Gore, Lena Horne, Julio Iglesias, Harry James, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Gene Krupa, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Billy May, Mike Melvoin, Willie Nelson, Lee Oskar, Ray Parker, Jr., Noel Pointer, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Kenny Rogers, Lalo Schifrin, Mel Torme, The Tubes, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Frank Zappa. Marshall also appears on several anthologies, including Capitol Recordings 1942-2002, First Ladies of Song, and Great Jazz Vocalists Sing Strayhorn & Ellington.

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

Sources:

Sosson, Marshall (18 August 1910-28 April 2002)

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